Why Caitlin Clark likely won't play in Unrivaled basketball league
Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier’s Unrivaled league is reportedly making a push to land Caitlin Clark, one of the WNBA’s biggest stars.
Since news of the league began to skyrocket months ago, it’s managed to land some pretty impressive talent as it continues building its reportedly 30-person roster. Paige Bueckers of UConn already signed a deal to join in 2026 and will have ownership equity in the league. Angel Reese is also on board to suit up. But things don’t stop there.
Unrivaled recently landed a monster media rights deal with TNT Sports that will give it 45 primetime matchups starting in January 2025. With a new deal, Michael McCarthy of Front Office Sports revealed that Unrivaled will reportedly make a “full-court press” to land Caitlin Clark. Here is what Napheesa Collier recently said on Fan Duel’s Run It Back about Caitlin:
“The growth that Caitlin has brought to the game. The sheer amount of money that she’s making these teams…Definitely, we want to be part of that change…I think she should be one of the top players in the world just for the sheer numbers that she’s bringing…”
Phee talked about @Unrivaledwbb this morning on @RunItBackFDTV.
League has already filled 26 of the 30 roster spots.
“I think we might have a couple more rookies in there. That might be a hint.”
On Caitlin Clark possibly joining:
“The growth that Caitlin has brought to… pic.twitter.com/YrBOU873nz
— Vanshay Murdock (@VanshayM) October 17, 2024
Technically, Unrivaled has yet to fill its 30-athlete roster, leaving room for additional WNBA players to join, but I do not expect Caitlin Clark to be on that list. Why? She needs rest.
Caitlin has not had an entire offseason to do what she wants — rest, play golf or otherwise. Joining Unrivaled drastically cuts into her time to recuperate from what has at least been a nearly 12-month-plus grind. Since easily September of last year, she has been going almost non-stop and hasn’t had longer than a few weeks just to be Caitlin.
The reported offer is nice, but fans shouldn’t get excited about seeing Caitlin play basketball anytime soon.